Gates already has a Surface RT with a black keyboard cover and loves it

Just days ahead of the release of Windows 8 and the Surface tablet, Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates offered his opinion on the company's latest products -- and he seems to be rather fond of them (naturally).

In a video interview with Microsoft's Steve Clayton of Next blog, Gates talked about how incredible Windows 8 is, and even said "Windows 8 is key to where personal computing is going."

Gates added that Windows 8 has brought the operating system into "the world of touch, low-power devices - really giving people the best of what you think of as a tablet-type experience and the PC experience.

Gates sees Windows 8 as a perfect balance between a mobile and PC experience because it incorporates touch, making certain tasks faster and easier, but also keeps some traditional aspects of the computing experience - such as using a keyboard or mouse.

"You want to incorporate touch without giving up a kind of keyboard/mouse capability that is just so natural in most settings," said Gates.

Of course, Gates also gave his opinion of Microsoft's Surface tablet, saying that it's an "unbelievably great product." In fact, he already has a Surface RT with a black keyboard cover.

"You can't appreciate it without seeing it," said Gates. "People, get to a store and play around with this thing. The way you put that keyboard on and off, the richness of the swiping that takes the touch interface to a new level, just the beauty of the device - it is absolutely incredible."

Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface will be released this Friday. The Surface already went on sale for pre-order and sold out of its 32GB units.

"People will be pretty amazed about the energy Microsoft's putting behind this new wave of products," said Gates. "We really saved up in terms of knowing this was such an important set of innovations that whether it's great new applications, ISV engagement or just plain marketing, this is the big time for us."